A bigger problem than the weather is that you will be visiting too many places in a short time. And yes, it will be cold and probably wet on some of your days.

It appears you are taking an organized tour. Exactly how many days is this tour? It seems like a lot of destinations but as long as the tour operator is responsible for getting you from one place to another, that will make it easier for your parents. Of course you can expect cold and wet weather during that time of the year so be prepared with appropriate warm clothing.

If possible, you might consider touring Europe at a more comfortable time of the year.

January in Europe can be cold and rainy yes. I am not sure where you are from, but you may want to check out the seasonal averages on a website like the weather channel. In January in Paris and London you will need a winter jacket, gloves, scarg etc. You may even get snow.

How long do you actually have, one week or two weeks?

cold (-10C), short days, probably wet. Rushing about. If they are well cared for not a problem.

yes it is from affordable tour. Our trip is from jan. 3 - 13.

Six cities in eleven days? Well, you aren't going to have time to see much. You will be trapped on the bus most of the day, going from one city to the next.

January is likely to be cold and wet. The days will be short, with late sunrise and very early sunset.

I would hate this sort of trip and be completely exhausted by the time it was over. But some people actually seem to enjoy it. You said it was your parents' first tour together. Is it your first tour, too?

If your main goal is to see as many different places as possible, in a short time, a tour is an ok alternative. It gets you from one place to the next and you don't have to think or plan. But you are locked into the tour schedule.

I've never heard of "affordable tour", so I have no idea if they are good value or not.

You should research the tour hotels to see if they are decent and exactly where they are located. Staying in a hotel an hour's drive from the city centre would not be much fun.

Are the meals included? Usually the included tour meals are not the best. If the meals are not included, where is the bus stopping for lunch? Will you be forced to eat the hotel's dinners or will there be other restaurants close by?

Are there any excursions? Are they included in the price or can you choose to do your own? Some people who have gone on tours complain about being forced to go to expensive shops and listen to sales pitches during excursions. I've been lucky enough to avoid that horror on the tours I've gone on, so it's not something all tours do.

Is this your only chance to see Europe? If you are likely to return to Europe again soon I'd advise you to drop a few cities from the list and do them next time instead.

I suspect this is the tour:

http://www.affordabletours.com/search/tours/52723/

I suggest a tour that has fewer stops and more time to enjoy where you visit.

We have no problem visiting Europe in winter when crowds are fewer and prices lower and would absolutely choose that over summer months. Fall is our favorite but we also love the spend the Christmas holiday in Europe. Weather is fine as long as you are prepared it with proper clothing.

Ok. That's really nine days, not eleven.

Day 3: "See a host of sights". That probably means a quick walk past with an opportunity to take a few photos.

Day 4: "Drive past" means the bus is unlikely to stop. If you want to take a photo you'd better be quick AND sit in the right place on the bus. "an orientation drive" may sound nice, but will probably only make you confused, especially if you are doing it in the dark.

Day 5: "Drive along" to "view" also means the bus isn't likely to stop.

Day 6: "See the sprawling vineyards" and "passing the medieval castle" - the bus isn't stopping here, either.

Day 7: "Catch a glimpse of" well, I'm sure you can guess what that means.

Day 8: "Witness a Local Speciality glass-blowing demonstration" - yes, and listen to the nice sales pitch, too.

Day 9: "Shop for 18-carat gold jewellery and the finest Italian leather goods" Well, if you like shopping, that's fine, I guess.

Looks like eight evening meals/dinners are included. That can be good or bad, depending on the restaurants. But where does the bus stop for lunch?

A quick Google search shows that the Venice hotel lies outside Venice, with a 25 minute bus ride into the city if you want to go there on your own.

According to Google the Evergreen Laurel Hotel is located near Paris in the quiet suburb of Levallois Perret. It's a 15 minute trip by metro into central Paris. Not too bad, I guess.

Well, I'm sure you can look up the rest of the hotels on your own.

By the way, the tour website says it's twin rooms. Will you be able to arrange for a third bed in your parents' room (keeping in mind it's likely to be a small room) or are you going to have to pay extra for a single room or will you have to share with a stranger?

Yes, it will be cold and gray and possibly snowy or wet.

It sounds absolutely horrible to me - just sitting on a bus peering out the window for hours on end "getting a glimpse of" this and that, being pressured to buy stuff by touts, staying in hotels outside the main center of things, eating at terrible restaurants...

I would be miserable doing this, but that's not to say you would be. It depends on expectations. Mine are a lot higher than this, especially when I'm paying money for it. Frankly, even if I were completely clueless about traveling in a new place, I'd rather just pay the airfare, land, and let whatever happens, happen.

Going on a tour has its disadvantages as Fodorites above pointed out, but for some, especially in case of erderly people, it has its own many advantages. My mother always joined a tour since she was in her late fifties up to early eighties - and has stopped joining tours for holidays just a few years ago due to a hip replacement operation she had to undergo.

She always liked the fact that she had everything planned out for her and organized, and that she always had the tour bus at their disposal everywhere they go,without the hassle of having to catch buses, trains, queue for tickets, etc - it does save you a lot of time - that is why they manage to visit so many countries and sites - and she even liked the fact that she toured around by bus a lot and visited many places and saw lovely mountain or country scenary along the way. She also was confident in knowing that if anything happened to her, she would have the support and help of the tour leader - you do get pampered, sometimes way too much. She even often used to have her baggage carried to the coach for her, by the leader or someone from the group. You end up feeling part of a large family. I only went once with her - it is true that you have to go wherever they take you, and eat in restaurants that they book - but you do have some time for leisure, and being in my late teens at the time, I did enjoy the fact that the tour leader used to take us the younger ones by coach to night clubs and discos very late in the evening after the dinner outing. My mum also liked the fact that she was with a group, and made so many new friends throughout the years. It is not my cup of tea now, but I must say that I had enjoyed that guided tour.


Of course, there are tours that more hectic than others - that try to fit more in. Sometimes they do overnight stops on their routes, but you still manage to have a glimpse of that particular place as usually they include at least a sight-seeing tour in each stop. Again,now it is not my way of travelling with my own family as we always rent car to tour around at our own leisure, but if that is what your mother prefers, or maybe if she has some mobility issues, or you want to just have everything taken care of, then a tour is a sure option.

Weatherwise, January is not the best of months to go on holiday in Europe. Paris and London can be extremely cold. I did visit my uncle and aunt once in London in January, and it had been snowing and the road was icy and slippery. As a family we did go to Italy various times, and visit Rome, Florence and Venice area end of December, and it was not so bad, in fact the three times we went in December it never rained or snowed - even so you still have to wear warm clothing, especially in the evenings when temperature drops, but we went and walked around everywhere, nothing at all that you can't endure. Hovever, a few weeks after we arrived back home on our last vacation in Italy last December there was a spell of very cold weather in Italy with snowfalls in many towns and cities where it hardly ever snows. So weather is unpredictable anywhere. But being with a tour and being driven around to destinations and sites helps for sure. I wouldn't know about your parents - whether they have medical issues, or whether they are used to or hate colder weather, as I must stress again that you can never foretell whether it would be raining or snowing - especially in Paris and London - nobody can forcast that for you now for sure. But anyway, coaches would have special tyres, snow chains etc in the unlikely event of extreme weather.

Just make sure (as my mum always did) that you have bathroom ensuites with your rooms, and that the accomodation offered in the tour is good enough for you. I would also check on the credibility and professionalism of the tour operator and tour leaders, enquire what age group will be attending the tour, what meals and tours and entrances to sites are included in the price of the tour, and last but not least make some travel insurance (most tour operators request this anyway).

However, considering that you are taking your elderly parents with you (saying that sixties is not really elderly nowadays) I would certainly prefer to do my vacation in late Spring or Summer. However, it is all a matter of preferences and availability and budget - tours in Winter most probably would be much less costly since it would be low season for many hotels etc, so you would probably get a good bargain for your vacation.

I can understand a tour for elderly people who don;t want to cope withtheir own luggage and don;t mind sitting on a bus for most of the day and seeing thing out the window.It also look like you will spend a lot of time shopping - whether you want to or not.

In tour language:

View - means see out the bus window as your drive by (if on the wrong side of the bus see nothing)

Stop means a 5-minute photo op out front

Only visit means you go inside and actually see something

I would be more concerned about the weather. Not sure where yuo are from - but if you are not prepared for sub-freezing weather, snow, sleet, ice, chilly rain and short gray days - this is not a great idea. No flowers, no leaves on trees - so everything will be dreary. And you may need to buy a new wardrobe for the weather if you live somewher that doesn;t have a true winter (heavy coats, hat, wool scarf, gloves, sweaters, warm pants for both sexes and waterproofed and non-skid walking shoes or boots.

If the tour that ellenm found is the one you are considering, it is a very bad tour for the money. Days 4, 6 & 7 are almost all travel all day with little sightseeing. In winter, it will be dark when you arrive in the evening and likely not pleasant enough to be out doing much, especially by time you check into the hotel and eat dinner. You have basically a half day in Venice and a half day in Florence, with travel the other half of those days. So, being realistic, you are using up 3 whole days and two half days (four days total) of your time mostly just sitting on a bus.

That is a very poor return for your money, IMHO.

In your parent's case, it would be a better trip if they did two cities like London and Paris with EuroStar in between (so they don't waste the whole day on a bus) or one country like Italy and stayed in two or three places there, like Venice, Florence & Rome, and took the train in between. They would actually have much more sightseeing time.

I've been to Europe quite a few times. Were this my first trip, I would also wait for nicer weather and longer days.

I can't say it strongly enough - that is not a good tour! If you want a tour, pick an different one - with less bus time and more real sightseeing.

Strongly agree to consider:

1) Is this the right time of year for you?

2) Can you find a tour that gives you more sightseeing and less sitting on a bus (probably napping from exhaustion/boredom)

I would concentrate on Italy and perhaps southern France in January. Have been to Italy several Januarys and weather is kind of like California IME in winter though maybe not quite as warm.

If going by train to all those places mentioned then consider the Eurail Select Saverpass - for lots of great info on European trains I always spotlight these IMO superb sites - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

With older parents strongly conside first class on trains - lot more roomy seats - often lots of empty seats, more room for luggage, etc. - for the trip of a lifetime go first class - the Select Pass, valid in France, Switzerland and Italy in your case is only first class if over 25 - so when comparing regular fares - cheapest fares are 2nd class - consider that the pass is first class.

"Going on a tour has its disadvantages as Fodorites above pointed out, but for some, especially in case of erderly people, it has its own many advantages."

"I can understand a tour for elderly people . . ."

yes -- some tours are fine, and yes -- tours can be great for older folks . . . But not THAT tour, and not at THAT time of year, and not for THAT much money.

It is a horrible itinerary and a huge waste of money IMO

Ditto

Not all tours are bad. That one sounds bad. Too much rushing by , not enough visiting.
Also, january it the middle of winter in Europe, which in most places does mean cold and rain, and possibly snow in some places. If you are from a warm country you may not have the clothes you need to enjoy such a trip .

I would choose another tour. Perhaps one that focuses more in the south, ( it will still be cool, but perhaps a bit better weather then the northern destinations) And for only 10 days, I would only visit 3 places.

I also love Paris and suggest you could just go to Paris and London and take the Eurostar train between them. Yes, still cold, but these cities have many amazing sites to enjoy inside, museums, churches, shopping, opera and dining out on lovely food. For some seniors rushing about is very tiring.

I think the main problem about this tour is that, amongst other stops, there are visits to three major capital cities in Europe including Rome, which is very far from the other two (maybe if they did Brussels instead that would have been another thing) in a very limited time - so naturally there are long journeys to reach Rome by coach. All these three capital cities have a lot to offer, and for sure they deserve at least a 3-night stop each. This tour needed to take 2 weeks the very least. I am not surprised, as many tours, (not all, but many) do this, also many Europeon tour operators from various countries - and try and fit a lot in - maybe to impress and lure people who have never been to these countries to do them all in one go - like to convince them the more the better and the more you see. But I do think there is a limit, and this tour operator IMO did go over the limit in choosing these major cities.

But then again, it is up to you - I do not know the price of the tour, or whether January is the only time you can go for a holiday and did not manage to find another tour for this month, or if you absolutely don't mind staying for so long in a coach. It is not my preference for sure, but everyone has his own tastes.

One advice - be careful that there are no hidden charges - many tour leaders make lots of profit this way - like optional tours or excursions, which would would be obliged (or at least need to take otherwise you will end up somewhere alone) optional dinners,optional sight-seeing tours, or so they transport you to some place in the evening, etc etc. They can come up to a hefty sum. Also bear in mind that every place you go, like for dinner, shows, etc - tour leaders often charge more than the actual price, to make profit. I clearly remember once when I had been on the tour with my mum, we had gone to some show or dinner somewhere, and the rate of prices were displayed at the entrance. We had paid to the tour leader a substantially higher amount, probably it was optional - and one of the tourists with us thought that we had paid too much and we had been ripped off and told him so. He had replied that they are tour operators who work for a profit, and not some non-profit charitable organization!! So, bottom line, they do try and make some money during every single minute of the tour. Of course, there are also many honest tour operators who do not try to rip you off at every opportunity, on the contrary. My mum usually stuck to the same three or four agencies and chose the tour that appealed to her most - she did this twice a year for so many years, always at Eastertime and Summer. Again, I do agree with the others that January is not the best of times, unless you are keen on seeing snow like in Switzerland. But it certainly not pleasurable to walk around and sightsee if it turns out to be very cold weather in London or Paris. Saying that, I have been to London for New Year's eve in 2004, it was very cold, but endurable. However, during that holiday we also drove around the south-west of England, basing ourselves in Taunton, and drove northwards to Weston-Super-Mare and close to the Welsh border, and even though it was not snowing, we hardly ventured out of our car it was so freezingly cold. It is ok is you are used to it and live there, but to go and walk around as a tourist is another matter. So after that, we always visited Italy in the Wintertime.

Anyway, good luck whatever you decide.

One of the most odious to me of the hidden charges of group trips is the seemingly mandatory tip you are very pressured into thinking you must give the tour guide or guides - the person escorting the bus and telling about things, etc.

Apparently these folks may not get any pay from the tour company but depend on tour members for their income - kind of like wait people in American restaurants - whilst I feel sorry for the tour guide I think this should be part of the tour price and not a surprise at the end of the trip - fine print may say something about gratuities but they rarely say you are 100% expected to tip the tour guide(s).

Tipping on a tour is the same as tipping on a cruise. Usually the cruise line tells you what the tipping standards are.

And while it would be nice if tour guides were better paid - they're not. So if nobody tipped, the price of the tour would go up to give them a better salary. You pay either way. This gives you the option of tipping more or less depending on how well you think the guide met your needs.

Im Yhoj gal. I already made an account here in fodors. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR REPLIES it will help me with our decision making. I'm from San Jose CA. and my parents don't really mind being in the cold place but I am just realy worried about the tours. I don;t know anything about the tours and my parents wants to go somewhere by january before they will go home in our homeland. I checked this globus tours and i found this 2 tours

http://www.globusjourneys.com/Product.aspx?trip=3LH

http://www.globusjourneys.com/Product.aspx?trip=3LJ

I've checked some of the tours that only stick to one city because most of your advises is to be in just one city rather than going to diffrent city and we'll spend just in the bus or coach most of the time! IF YOU CAN PLEASE HELP ME CHOOSE WHICH ONE IS BETTER. IF THE FIRST LINK OR THE SECOND LINK!
Nobody can help me because most of the people I know haven't been to europe and never tried the tours yet. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR COMMENTS! AGAIN THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND IF YOU CAN HELP ME AGAIN...

or if you have any suggestions of places that are nice to visit on january. It would be helpful. I've been spending almost a week looking for nice tours and especialy reviews from the tours company.

As a travel agent who plans many trips to Europe for clients, groups and myself, I recommend you look at Monograms, a division of Globus. They take care of the train tickets, transfers, hotels (located in the center), an introductory walking tour in all the cities and have a host at the hotel to answer questions and assist with whatever you need. It is a nice balance between a planned your and an independent DIY trip.

The most popular Italy itinerary is Venice, Florence and Rome and I receive consistently excellent feedback on this tour:
http://monograms.com/booking/monograms/product.aspx?trip=3DIQ

There are no buses involved and the tour takes cares of the details but provides lots of free time. No bus rides, mediocre meals or out of the way hotels and ten quality is consistently good.

As for tipping tour guides, I personally do not find as big a deal as others make it out to be. A Euro or 2 per person for a 2-3 hour tour hardly breaks the bank and adds about 10E per person to the trip. Hardly a hardship.

Good luck with your decision.

With 1 week you could have a great time in any major city, here are three examples:

London - there are lots of free museums, shopping, churches etc that can be seen in the rain and it doesnt usually rain all day. Added bonus of the language being English so it shoud be easy to manage.

Paris - beautiful even in the grey rain, and also lots of museums and cafes to drop into if it rains

Rome - likley to be a bit more temperate. We were there for a week over NYE last year and while we wore jackets we could still sit outside. Of course it could be colder...no one can say.

You dont need a tour to see these places. Get a good guide book and start reading threads here and trip reports about the place you have chosen. You can do a search above for hotels and restaurants, and start a new thread to ask your specific questions.

You can plan your own days which will allow you to pick and choose what you see, and also how much time you spend at each place. You can organise your own tours of particular things that you enjoy and we can help with that. You can even plan day trips out of the city for a change of pace and we can help with that too once you tell us which place you are interested in.

I can give you a start on London if you select that:
www.londontown.com great website for things to do and also
www.walks.com great website for walking tours and day trips
www.daysoutguide.com info on 2for1 deals and good suggestions about things to do
http://www.hrp.org.uk/ info on historic royal palaces

We can help with other cities as well but I highly recommend gettnig a good guide book like Michelin Green Guides.

I hope this helps! Planning a trip to 1 or 2 places is not as complicated as it may seem and could be very rewarding!

Of your 2 links, I'd go for the first tour. The second has too many stops in such a short time. Or, better, take kfusto's suggestion of Monograms. That's a good compromise between a guided tour and totally independent travel.

In any case, you should do some research about the sights to see at your destinations, maybe read up on the history a little bit. The more you know, the more you get out of a trip.

Charms - what mimar said.

of the 3 hotels the 1st tour uses, the ones on Rome and Florence are not exactly in the centre of where you will want to be, which may be a problem for your parents.

in your position, I might be tempted just to pick London and Paris, [or Paris and Rome] book decent hotels in the centre of each, and reckon on using taxis a lot to get about.

IMHO the first Globus Tour is a much better choice since you aren't spending all of your time sitting on a bus. You still MAY get very cold weather - but the lowest temps and snow are much rarer in these Italian cities than north of the Alps. (Although you should still expect temps it he 40s and very chilly rain - much colder than where you live now.)

If you feel comfortable on your own you could easily do a similar trip to Italy yourselves by train - and take a couple of days longer to be able to see more. Or - if cold/snow really isn't an issue you could do London an Paris for 10 or aa days - with the Eurostar train in between.

Sometimes you get what you pay for,, and if something is alot cheaper there is usually a reason why. Rick Steves tours are not cheap, but they do not nickel and dime you on the tour and they have a no tipping policy, which they mean.

Tours can be tiring, my ex mother in law found the Globus Italy tour she took a few years ago quite exhausting, and she was only 68 and in great shape, but too much moving around, and hotels were never really centrally located.

As someone who has often traveled with my parents over the years, I understand the appeal of not having all of the responsibility a fully independent trip requires.

The OP stated in her first post that it will be their first time really traveling together and hence the burden will be on the OP; this is not always easy and especially for one person and two parents. Been there and done that and still take my 82 year old mother to Europe every couple of years, but not by myself as it is just too much.

That being said, I would never subject myself to a bus tour, hence my recommendation for Monograms. It is a good compromise and uses trains and private transfers with all of the details taken care of while still offering a lot of independence.

I didn't look at prices and was not familiar with Monogram, suggested by Kfusto. However, if you decide a tour is best, the Monogram tour looks best to me. It stays longer in cities that have a lot to offer plus (a very big plus, IMHO), it uses trains rather than buses from Rome to Florence and Florence to Venice. They are fast and comfortable, saving travel time and giving you more sight-seeing time. I would like it more if it started in Venice and ended in Rome. At least it doesn't seem to have a terribly early departure from Venice.

Both Globus tours have "buying opportunities" and options that are just a way to get more money, and they use up time that could be spent seeing wonderful art and architecture, or even just sitting in a cafe observing local life and soaking up culture. Of course, selling and hawking goods is also part of a culture - personal choice. Both use buses. The second one makes entirely too many "photo op" stops, so more time riding a bus to see less.

Skip all optional tours and "buying opportunities." You can do any of these on your own for less money and probably use less time to do them - such as the tour of Rome sights like Trevi fountain and Spanish Steps. Anybody with a good map can walk these on your own for free. Even if you use a taxi or subway to get there, it won't cost much.

If Pisa is a must see (With such a short trip, it wouldn't be for me), it is a quick trip by train from Florence if you are staying there and have a free afternoon. It can be tortuous by tour bus if you happen to run into traffic. Unfortunately, I know from personal experience.

sassafras, it is also available Venice to Rome.

I agreed about the buying opportunities on bus tours and they have a captive audience - a waste of time. I also agree with skipping all of the optionals and seeking out experiences on your own.

thanks guys for all the replies. I talked to my dad and asked him if we can do the inependent travel but he insist. I think he's scared since it's ourfirst time and we dnt know anything in europe and also were not flunt to speak in english so he really wanted to go with tour and doesn't want to explore independently. So i found one that i think it's much better becuase we are ruding in trains. Please suggest and comments.

http://www.globusjourneys.com/Product.aspx?trip=3HF&content=overview

AGAIN, Thank you for all the wonderful comments. For my next trip without my parents if that will happen I will consider the monogram. I learned a lot with all your suggestions! THANK YOUsO MUCH! I hope you can help with me with this decision.

Charm31: "So i found one that i think it's much better becuase we are ruding in trains."

No - you are not riding on trains. The ONLY train is the Eurostar between Paris and London. All the rest of the tour is by motor coach (buses).

Plus the ONLY included 'inside' visits are the Vatican, the Coliseum/Forum, the Accademia, up the Eiffel Tower and St Paul's Cathedral. Only five actual 'sites' visited. Everything else included are walking tours (no admissions), bus tours (no stopping), or commercial/shopping.

You will be paying almost $8000 PLUS airfare PLUS additional meals PLUS opptional excursions PLUS personal expenses. So you are looking at nearly $15,000 for 9 full and 2 half days on the ground!!!!

This would be awful IMO.

If your father insists on a tour - then I guess you have no choice. But if their English isn't that good how are they going to cpe with everything the guide says - either on the bus - or the guids say in the sights you visit.

I would think limited English is a strong reason to set up your own trip so yuo're seeing what you want - and can have the necessary guide books that they are more comfortable with.

The more that you do individually the more info that you can provide to them - assuming yuo are willing to be tour guide. Or - you might be better setting up private tours in just 2 or 3 cities - given by a guide that can speak whatever language they are more comfortable with.

On a group tour the guides are unlikely to want to do a lot of repetitions for people who don;t understand everything the first time through - of you constantly translating for them if necessary. Also, if it turns out the tour is too active for them - the guide can;t make any rearrangements. They may be stuck just waiting in a bus if an activity is too fast-paced for them - the whole group can't wait for people to catch up.

The more you tell us the more independent travel - with local support as necessary - makes sense.

The Monograms package is a tour, using trains, and not on a bus. Did you read the details?

Charm31, Please take this as it is intened to be - helpful. This Globus tour is perhaps even worse than the first ones. It is almost entirely by bus. There are very few great sights included. Here is what it comes down to.

Day 1: Travel and dinner (no real sightseeing)

Day 2: Rome (one day of sightseeing - very rushed - hope they at least see the Sistine chapel and ancient Rome)

Day 3: 1/2 day travel (1/2 day sightseeing in Florence - pitiful amount of time in this great city)

Day 4: more than a 1/2 day travel (less than a 1/2 day of sight seeing in Venice - one of the world's treasures and they get half a day - too sad to think about it)

Day 5: Travel - very little real sight seeing

Day 6: Lucerne (One day basically walking around) It will be very cold.

Day 7: Travel

Day 8: Paris (one day of sight seeing)

Day 9: 1/2 day travel (1/2 day sight seeing)

Day 10: London (one day of sight seeing)

You have 4&1/2 total days of actually sightseeing, one day of walking around (sightseeing?) and 4&1/2 days of travel - all by bus except for the Paris to London bit.

First, it is criminal to go to Florence or Venice for only 1/2 day! I can't say that strongly enough. If you can not find a tour that gives each a complete full day, then don't do that tour.

If you get a good map of Europe and look at how far you will be traveling each day, you can gage how much time you will spend on the bus.

Was Switzerland even on their priority list?

Seriously, seriously, please consider doing Rome, Florence, Venice or London & Paris, and give up this horrible, bus ride from London to Rome. It really is not a good idea. This is meant in the kindest way in the hope your parents have a wonderful trip and actually see beautiful things of importance rather than enduring days in a bus.

charm - have you shown your dad this thread?

for the cost of that awful tour, you could have really super hotels wherever you go, lovely food, private guides.

Have a look at these tours. They give you maximum time in each place with minimum travel time. They use high-speed trains and planes for long distance legs of trip. They give you 2&1/2 days in each major city. They are independent, rather than a big group, but have everything (including some tours) planned, for you. They are listed as Globus Independent tours offered with Affordable Tours.

Venice, Florence & Rome, code DIQ3
This is almost exactly like the Monogram tour suggested by kfusto. Uses high-speed trains. This gives a good variety in one country.

Rome, Paris & London, code DRR3
Air from Rome to Paris, ES Paris to London
If they really want a taste of three big cities in three countries, this works.

London, Paris & Amsterdam, code DRE3
Another nice variety of cities, using High speed trains.
Amsterdam may be pretty cold.

These are ideas for you to see the kinds of tours that offer more sightseeing.

Look for: 3 places (cities) max, 2 full days in any major cities, 1 full day in smaller cities, no one night stops, fast trains or planes for longer legs of trip, no all day travel in buses. Hope this helps.

Annhig is absolutely correct!

Europe in those months will obviously be cold and wet. Do you think they are in shape/healthy enough not to get sick because the weather since they are in their 60's and 70's. I just came from Italy yesterday and was there for two weeks. It took about 4-5 days to really see most of everything. The Vatican itself could take half a day to really enjoy it. As much as i was excited to see Venice i was very disappointed. It just a overpriced flea market in a city on top of water. Rome was awesome and would spend a few days there. The only good thing about a traveling tour is that you don't have to deal with the traffic and walking. Which driving in Rome is scary as hell. The bad part is i don't think you will truly get to know these countries and cities you want to see.

Spanky -

I hate to break it to you but there is this thing called the "germ theory of disease". While you can die of immersion in very cold water - or if out in arctic temps without proper clothing - normal winter weather won;t make anyone sick - even at the incredibly advanced age of 60 something.

The point is not disease - but enjoyment. If one is spending a large amount on a vacation one wants to be able to enjoy it - not just sit on a bus the whole time. Being winter (shorter days, no flowers or leaves on trees, sights open on sorter schedules - only makes the situation worse.)

Spanky. Different people enjoy different things and many people don't fall in love with Venice, especially in summer when it is hot, crowded and canals murky, but to say it is nothing more than a flea market city on water makes me wonder.

Did you go into the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica? Did you stand at the far end of Piazza San Marco and look at the Basilica and see it glitter in the sunlight? Did you visit Frari Church, Scuola San Rocco or tour the Ghetto or any of the other churches and many, many galleries and Venetian buildings? Did you ride a vaporetto all the way up or down the Grand canal? Did you explore any of the unique neighborhoods away from Rialto and San Marco? If you walked only around Rialto and the shops of San Marco, then, perhaps you didn't really see Venice.

I've been to Venice 8 times, a couple of times, on my way to other places, just quick stops of a few hours to get a glimpse. I try to always walk across Piazza San Marco without looking at the Basilica so I can turn at the far end and see it full on, all at once. Every single time, it stops me still and mute with awe and wonder that such beauty is possible.